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Monthly Archives: April 2012

Typography can be described as the art and technique of making language visible. Words are powerful enough, but digitization has opened up typography to new generations of visual designers and lay users.

3D printing of typography brings a whole new level of creativity and imagination. For graphic designer and typographer, Luca Ionescu, inspiration comes from the need to make things better or try something new. That’s why he approached 3D Systems Asia-Pacific to push the boundaries of technology to 3D print his “Steady As She Goes” (see below image) piece.

Our technician points out that re-work of CAD data by an expert is an essential part of any complex geometry piece to optimize the CAD for SLS build. Dimensions: 339mm X 492mm

Luca runs Like Minded Studio where he has attracted the attention of Australia’s most creative agencies and high-profile clients from Coke to MTV. Luca predicts that typography pieces will be made from a variety of both physical and digital methods, including rapid prototyping.

“The possibilities of using 3D printing break the conventions of typography wide open to a new realm of expression through sculptural typographic pieces. I think as creative’s in design, art and advertising start using different technology to communicate to the audience, type will become more dynamic and interactive,” Luca explained.

The Atom 3D printed guitar: A Les Paul style guitar with an internal atom and spinning electrons. It features a wooden core (choices of Mahogany, Alder or Mable) and a number of options for hardware, etc.

The creater of the Atom Guitar was Olaf Diegel, a design engineer passionate about 3D printing and a professor of mechatronics at Massey University in Auckland, New Zealand.

The bodies are printed, using Selective Laser Sintering, by 3D Systemsin the USA, on an sPro SLS system. Les Paul stated “this is still a work in progress as we finalize the design and begin the assembly of the first prototypes, just to wet your appetite…”